Kucherov, Nikita

KHL Eastern Conference Finals (Russia):
Nikita Pivtsakin's goal at 6:01 of the second overtime lifted Omsk to a 3-2 Game Two victory over Chelyabinsk. The series is tied at 1-1. Game Three is scheduled for Monday. Nikita Nesterov did not suit up for Traktor.

Cherepovets Jr. scored 2 unanswered goals to pull away from CSKA Jr and even their Western Conference Semifinal series at 2-2. That means the deciding Game Five is the series will occur on Tuesday. Mytischi Jr. awaits the victor.

After a rather quiet first 5 games of the MHL playoffs, Nikita Kucherov broke out today with a power play goal and an even strength goal in CSKA Jr.'s Game Three win over Cherepovets Jr. Game Four is scheduled for Saturday.

Nikita Kucherov scored 7:42 into the third period to send CSKA Jr. and St. Petersburg Jr. to overtime, where the Baby Red Army triumphed 2-1. The Game Five victory means CSKA Jr. is moving on to the Semifinal round, where they will face Cherepovets Jr. Game One is set for Monday.

SM-liiga Playoffs (Finland):
The field of 8 is complete. Blues Espoo crushed Lukko 6-3 in Game Three of their mini play-in series, joining Karpat as the other recipient of a play-in spot. Riku Helenius and JYP will play Assat in the Quarterfinals beginning on Thursday.

KHL Eastern Conference Semifinals (Russia):
Former Blackhawks draft pick Petri Kontiola's goal late in the third period lifted Chelyabinsk to a 3-2 Game Four victory over Ak Bars Kazan. Nikita Nesterov did not play in the match. Chelyabinsk leads the series 3-1 and will go in for the kill on Thursday.

MHL Western Conference Quarterfinals (Russia Jr.):
CSKA Jr. rolled to a 7-2 Game Four victory to knot their series at 2-2. Nikita Kucherov did not play in the match. The decisive Game Five will be on Friday.

3-18-12KHL Eastern Conference Semifinals
Ex-NHLer Niko Kapanen scored 1:55 into overtime to lift Kazan to a critical 2-1 Game Three win over top seed Chelyabinsk. Nikita Nesterov did not dress for the match. Chelyabinsk still holds a 2-1 series lead with Game Four set for Tuesday.

Goaltender Viktor Fasth, who was rumored to be a Lightning free agent target, stopped all 31 shots he faced for AIK in their clinching 3-0 win over Lulea. The series loss is a crushing upset for the league's top seed.

Nikita Kucherov did not dress for CSKA Jr.'s critical Game Three loss to St. Petersburg Jr. Ex-NHLer Nikita Filatov has also not appeared for CSKA Jr. in the last couple of matches. Game Four is Tuesday.

KHL Eastern Conference Seminfinals (Russia):
Evgeny Kuznetsov's third period goal lifted Chelyabinsk to a 2-1 Game Two win over Ak Bars Kazan. Traktor now holds a 2-0 series lead. Kuznetsov, a first round pick of the Capitals, starred on Russia's Silver Medal winning U20 World Junior Championship team earlier this season. Nikita Nesterov did not appear in the match. Game Three is Sunday.

The upset alert is now blaring. Ex-NHLer Dick Tarnstrom assisted on AIK's game opening goal and they did not look back, posting a 4-1 Game Four victory over top seed Lulea. Lulea now faces elimination in Game Five on Sunday.

With nothing on the line, JYP started backup Joni Myllykoski in their regular season ending 4-1 win over Karpat. JYP finishes the regular season 4th on the SM-liiga table. Karpat, which would've finished in the top-6 of the league with a win, instead finishes 7th and will now have to play in the opening play-in round. JYP already knows who their Semifinal Round opponent will be: 5th seed Assat. The Semifinals will begin next Thursday, the 22nd.

Nikita Kucherov assisted on Nikita Gusev's game opening power play goal, but it was all downhill from there for CSKA Jr. in their Game One loss to St. Petersburg Jr. Ex-Blue Jackets first rounder Nikita Filatov scored CSKA Jr.'s other goal. Game Two is Friday.

KHL Eastern Conference Semifinals (Russia):
The field is now set in the Eastern Conference of the KHL. Top seed Chelyabinsk will face Ak Bars Kazan beginning on Wednesday with Game One of the series. With his MHL club finished for the season, expect Chelyabinsk's Nikita Nesterov to be a spot player for the KHL side the rest of the postseason.

MHL Playoffs (Russia Jr.):
CSKA Jr. will start their MHL title defense on Thursday against St. Petersburg Jr. CSKA Jr. finished 2nd in the MHL Central Division while Sr. Petersburg Jr. finished 3rd in the MHL Northwest Division. We'll see if sniper Nikita Kucherov appears after missing much of the last month of hockey.